This post was written by guest blogger Sabra Ciancanelli, editor of OurPrayer.
It’s not even Thanksgiving and already the Christmas catalogs have started to fill my mailbox. My youngest son, Henry, eagerly sits down with a stack of them. His eyes fill with possibility as he scans the pages with a marker in his hand. “I need this!” he says, circling a toy. “I need this!”
I’ve tried to explain the difference to him between want and need, but it’s a pretty hard concept for a five-year-old. As I try to convince him he doesn’t need another fire truck, I worry a little about how we’ll stretch our dollars to fill the spot under the Christmas tree.
I’m blessed to work for OurPrayer, a nonprofit free prayer service where users send in prayer requests and thousands of trained volunteers pray for each and every prayer individually. Lately, I’ve noticed that so many of the prayers are about money problems.
This morning I read, “I need a job. I’m asking God’s will be done and send me to the right job. Could you also please pray for my son, who needs a job? He is married and has a son. They are about to be evicted. We are broke, or else we would help them.”
The prayers I read on OurPrayer’s Pray for Others page stay with me. They come to my mind when I’m doing the dishes or putting Henry to sleep. They nudge me days later when I wonder if a complete stranger’s job interview went well or if someone was able to get the money they needed to pay the heating bill.
When I pray for others, my own worries seem to disappear and I feel connected to the world and closer to God. I’m reminded that the best gift we can give one another isn’t anything circled in a catalog; it’s our love and our prayers.
Are you worried about money or know someone looking for work or having a hard time making ends meet? OurPrayer is having a Day of Prayer devoted to helping all those needing financial blessings. Let OurPrayer’s caring volunteers pray for you.
www.guideposts.org
Lord God in heaven I come to you humbly asking you to bless me financially. This is not hard for you to do because the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. You are Jehovah Jireh the God who provides and I ask you to provide for me and my family and my friends. We are in need of your help.
Lord I ask you to show me the areas in my life where I may not have been a good steward of Your money and I ask that you would bring conviction into my heart by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Show me the areas where I need to improve how I handle your money so that I may honor You by using what You give me in a manner that pleases You. I pray Lord that when I receive this financial blessings that you will send me in the next few days, I will tithe to the ministry that you will call to my mind the amount which You will put in my heart. Lord I know that You are able to supply my needs according to your glorious riches in Christ Jesus. I know that you are the God who gives me the ability to create wealth and I make a covenant with you today that when you send me this financial blessing I will praise you for it no matter how small it may be and I will continue to serve you with a grateful heart.
Lord I ask that you would cause me to have an undivided heart and mind towards you. No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. I know that I cannot serve both You God and Money(Luke 16:13). Forgive me if I have misplaced my worship and my focus. Bless me this day with the blessing that you gave our forefather Abraham. Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain (1Chronicles 4:10). In Jesus Name. AMEN.
Save
www.missionariesofprayer.org
Financial Prayer
The Bible says quotes Jesus in the Book of Mark:
“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”(Mark 6:30-24) However, there are times when we do need to ask God for additional help, especially during extreme difficulties. Try this prayer when you need a financial boost:
Heavenly Father,
I come before you today to ask for a financial blessing to improve my life.
My faith keeps me strong, and I know you will provide for me and the people I love.
I do not seek a large sum of money.
I do not trouble you for unneeded comforts or luxury.
I only ask for enough money to relieve my financial woes and ease this stress.
Give me the means to do your work, and spread your Love.
I have so much to give, if only I were allowed the chance.
In your name I pray, Amen
You may also want to consider tithing what you can to the Church or to a charity. Generosity is greatly rewarded, though it must be done smartly too. Reflect on this prayer:
“Dear God, Make me a cheerful giver of all my tithes and offerings. I chose to receive all of Your promises and blessings as I am obedient to Your Word. Help me to remember the poor, knowing that I am lending to You and You will repay. Let me give with an attitude of gratitude and worship. I have nothing without You and I will take nothing out with me–only souls. I love to give! Help me to hear the exact amount and to whom to give of my offerings. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Here is another powerful financial prayer:
Dear God, source of Love and Life who brings abundance to all,
Please bring prosperity to me and my family now.
We ask that these basic needs be filled:
Money to pay our bills,
Income to meet our mortgage (rent),
Enough to feed us healthy food,
And more than enough for health care and wellness.
Beyond the material needs, please uplift our souls.
Inspire our creativity and resourcefulness.
Guide us in improving our lives.
Please help us to hold on to faith
And let us find peace. Amen.
Send this prayer or your own personal prayer in faith today through Holy Land Prayer and we will pray for you at the holiest site on Earth, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
www.holylandprayer.com
